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Abstract:

A method of performing pairing by a transmission terminal in device to
device communication is provided. The method includes classifying a
plurality of link identifications for identifying a data transmission and
reception channel a seed of at least one link identification; selecting
an available candidate link identification seed among the seed of the at
least one link identification, transmitting a pairing request message
including seed information associated with the selected available
candidate link identification seed, and receiving a pairing response
message corresponding to the pairing request message. When allocating a
connection ID in a device to device communication environment, even if a
small number of devices exist, an overhead for searching for the
connection ID is not great. Further, when many devices exist within a
specific range, a probability of devices having the same connection ID is
reduced. Accordingly, the device to device communication can be easily
performed.

Claims:

1. A method of performing pairing by a transmission terminal in device to
device communication, the method comprising: classifying a plurality of
link identifications for identifying a data transmission and reception
channel as a seed of at least one link identification; selecting an
available candidate link identification seed among the seed of the at
least one link identification; transmitting a pairing request message
including seed information associated with the selected available
candidate link identification seed; and receiving a pairing response
message corresponding to the pairing request message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the classifying of the plurality of
link identifications comprises: dividing the plurality of link
identifications into link identification sets of a first tier having no
intersection set; and dividing the plurality of link identifications into
a link identification set of a second layer having an intersection set
with at least one link identification set of the first tier, wherein the
link identification set of the second layer does not have shared link
identification.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the selecting of the available
candidate at least one link identification comprises: receiving
information including a tier and a seed of a link identification used in
communication from another terminal by the another terminal; and
selecting a tier and a seed of the link identification that does not
overlap with the received layer and seed of the link identification.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a link
identification to be used for communication among the selected link
identification set, wherein the receiving of the information comprises
receiving the selected link identification set information and a
predetermined numeral or link identification variation pattern
information corresponding to a size of the selected link identification
set information, and wherein the determining of the link identification
comprises determining a link identification to be used for the
communication based on the predetermined numeral or the link
identification variation pattern information.

5. A method of performing pairing by a reception terminal in device to
device communication, the method comprising: classifying a plurality of
link identifications for identifying a data transmission and reception
channel a seed of at least one link identification; searching for an
available candidate link identification seed among the seed of the link
identification; receiving a pairing request message including seed
information associated with a candidate link identification seed selected
by a transmission terminal side; determining a seed of a link
identification to be used for communication based on the received
candidate link identification seed information and the searched candidate
link identification set; and transmitting a pairing response message
including the determined seed information of the link identification to
be used for the communication.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the classifying of the plurality of
link identifications comprises: dividing the plurality of link
identifications into link identification sets of a first tier having no
intersection set; and dividing the plurality of link identifications into
a link identification set of a second layer having an intersection set
with at least one link identification set of the first tier, wherein the
link identification set of the second layer does not have shared link
identification.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the searching for the available
candidate link identification seed comprises: receiving information
including a tier and a seed of a link identification used in
communication from another terminal by the another terminal; and
searching for a tier and a seed of the link identification that does not
overlap with the received layer and seed of the link identification.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the transmitting of the pairing
response message comprises: transmitting a pairing response message
including seed information associated with the determined link
identification seed and a predetermined numeral or link identification
variation pattern information corresponding to a size of the determined
link identification set information.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the determining of the seed of the link
identification comprises: determining a predetermined seed of a highest
tier among seeds of a link identification having a same tier and link
identification of a link identification between the searched link and
seed of the link identification, and between the tier of the received
candidate link identification seed information and the seed of the link
identification.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining of the predetermined
seed of the highest tier among seeds of the link identification
comprises: determining a link identification of a lowermost tier when a
seed of a link identification having a same tier and seed of the link
identification between the received tier of the candidate link
identification and a seed of a link identification does not exist.

11. A transmission terminal for performing device to device
communication, the transmission terminal comprising: a controller
configured to classify a plurality of link identifications for
identifying a data transmission and reception channel a seed of at least
one link identification, and to select an available candidate link
identification seed among the seed of the link identification; a
transmitter configured to transmit a pairing request message including
seed information associated with the selected available candidate link
identification seed; and a receiver configured to receive a pairing
response message corresponding to the pairing request message.

12. The transmission terminal of claim 11, wherein the controller is
further configured to divide the plurality of link identifications into
link identification sets of a first tier having no intersection set, and
to divide the plurality of link identifications into a link
identification set of a second layer having an intersection set with at
least one link identification set of the first tier, and wherein the link
identification set of the second layer does not have shared link
identification.

13. The transmission terminal of claim 12, wherein the receiver is
configured to receive information including a tier and a seed of a link
identification used in communication from another terminal by the another
terminal, and wherein the controller is further configured to select a
tier and a seed of the link identification that does not overlap with the
received layer and seed of the link identification.

14. The transmission terminal of claim 11, wherein the receiver is
configured to receive the selected link identification set information
and a predetermined numeral or link identification variation pattern
information corresponding to a size of the selected link identification
set information, and wherein the controller is further configured to
determine a link identification to be used for communication among the
selected link identification set.

15. A reception terminal for performing device to device communication,
the reception terminal comprising: a receiver configured to receive a
pairing request message including seed information associated with a
candidate link identification seed selected by a transmission terminal
side; a controller configured to classify a plurality of link
identifications for identifying a data transmission and reception channel
a seed of at least one link identification, to search for an available
candidate link identification seed among the seed of the link
identification, and to determine a seed of a link identification to be
used for communication based on the received seed information associated
with candidate link identification seed and the searched candidate link
identification set; and a transmitter configured to transmit a pairing
response message including the determined seed information of the link
identification to be used for the communication.

16. The reception terminal of claim 15, wherein the controller is further
configured to divide the plurality of link identifications into link
identification sets of a first tier having no intersection set, and to
divide the plurality of link identifications into a link identification
set of a second layer having an intersection set with at least one link
identification set of the first tier, and wherein the link identification
set of the second layer does not have shared link identification.

17. The reception terminal of claim 16, wherein the receiver is
configured to receive information including a tier and a seed of a link
identification used in communication from another terminal by the another
terminal; and wherein the controller is configured to search for a tier
and a seed of the link identification that does not overlap with the
received layer and seed of the link identification.

18. The reception terminal of claim 15, wherein the transmitter is
further configured to transmit a pairing response message including seed
information associated with the determined link identification seed and a
predetermined numeral corresponding to a size of the determined link
identification set information.

19. The reception terminal of claim 16, wherein the controller is further
configured to determine a predetermined seed of a highest tier among
seeds of a link identification having a same tier and link identification
of a link identification between the searched link and seed of the link
identification, and between the tier of the received candidate link
identification seed information and the seed of the link identification.

20. The reception terminal of claim 19, wherein the controller is further
configured to determine a link identification of a lowermost tier when a
seed of a link identification having a same tier and seed of the link
identification between the received tier of the candidate link
identification and a seed of a link identification does not exist.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of
a Korean patent application filed on Jul. 26, 2012 in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial No. 10-2012-0081846, the
entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for paring
a transmission terminal in a device to device communication. More
particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus
for managing a connection IDentification (ID) in pairing which determines
a channel exchanging information in device to device communication.

BACKGROUND

[0003] In general, there is a bandwidth allocated in device to device
communication for the device to device communication. In order to
exchange information between devices, there is a need for an operation of
determining a channel exchanging information in the allocated bandwidth.

[0004] To this end, connection IDs corresponding to a channel exchanging
information within the allocated bandwidth are determined, a connection
ID differing from a connection ID to be used for a neighboring terminal
is selected from the connection IDs, and the device to device
communication is performed through a bandwidth of a channel corresponding
to the selected connection ID.

[0005] However, in a pairing operation of allocating the connection ID,
there is an overhead associated with searching for all connection IDs to
be used by a peripheral terminal and with determining a connection ID
which is not used.

[0006] Further, there is a method of selecting a corresponding connection
ID by selecting a random number. However, in this case, when the number
of peripheral terminals attempting communication is increased, a
connection ID of another undesirable device repeats so that data cannot
be transmitted and received to and from a described device.

[0007] The above information is presented as background information only
to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No
determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any
of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present
disclosure.

SUMMARY

[0008] Aspects of the present disclosure are to address at least the
above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the
advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present
disclosure is to provide a method and an apparatus for efficiently
determining connection ID for communication in pairing in device to
device communication.

[0009] In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a method of
performing pairing by a transmission terminal in device to device
communication is provided. The method includes classifying a plurality of
link identifications for identifying a data transmission and reception
channel a seed of at least one link identification, selecting an
available candidate link identification seed among the seed of the at
least one link identification, transmitting a pairing request message
including seed information associated with the selected available
candidate link identification seed, and receiving a pairing response
message corresponding to the pairing request message.

[0010] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a
method of performing pairing by a reception terminal in device to device
communication is provided. The method includes classifying a plurality of
link identifications for identifying a data transmission and reception
channel a seed of at least one link identification, searching for an
available candidate link identification seed among the seed of the link
identification, receiving a pairing request message including seed
information associated with a candidate link identification seed selected
by a transmission terminal side, determining a seed of a link
identification to be used for communication based on the received
candidate link identification seed information and the searched candidate
link identification set, and transmitting a pairing response message
including the determined seed information of the link identification to
be used for the communication.

[0011] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a
transmission terminal for performing device to device communication is
provided. The transmission terminal includes a controller configured to
classify a plurality of link identifications for identifying a data
transmission and reception channel a seed of at least one link
identification, and to select an available candidate link identification
seed among the seed of the link identification, a transmitter configured
to transmit a pairing request message including seed information
associated with the selected available candidate link identification seed
information, and a receiver configured to receive a pairing response
message corresponding to the pairing request message.

[0012] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a
reception terminal for performing device to device communication is
provided. The reception terminal includes a receiver configured to
receive a pairing request message including seed information associated
with a candidate link identification seed selected by a transmission
terminal side, a controller configured to classify a plurality of link
identifications for identifying a data transmission and reception channel
a seed of at least one link identification, to search for an available
candidate link identification seed among the seed of the link
identification, and to determine a seed of a link identification to be
used for communication based on the received seed information associated
with candidate link identification seed and the searched candidate link
identification set, and a transmitter configured to transmit a pairing
response message including the determined seed information of the link
identification to be used for the communication.

[0013] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure
will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following
detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed
drawings, discloses various embodiments of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain
embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the
following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a communication relationship and a
communication frame structure of a device to device according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating constituent elements of a
device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating signal flow in a device to
device communication according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of communication by
a transmission device according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of communication by
a reception device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D are diagrams illustrating a method of
dividing tiers of a link IDentification (ID) and seeds of the link ID
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of tiers and seeds
of a link ID according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0022] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of selecting seeds of a
link ID according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood
to refer to like parts, components, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The following description with reference to the accompanying
drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of
various embodiments of the present disclosure as defined by the claims
and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in
that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.
Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that
various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can
be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present
disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and
constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

[0025] The terms and words used in the following description and claims
are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by
the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the
present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled
in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the
present disclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for
the purpose of limiting the present disclosure as defined by the appended
claims and their equivalents.

[0026] It is to be understood that the singular forms "a," "an," and "the"
include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Thus, for example, reference to "a component surface" includes reference
to one or more of such surfaces.

[0027] Hereinafter, a method of acquiring a link Identification (ID) for
device to device communication in a system which supports a direction
communication service between devices. The link ID may be expressed as
link ID or connection ID in some cases.

[0028] As one example, a SEED is configured as a seed of a usable link ID
in order to acquire a link ID for direction communication between
devices. An operation of broadcasting an available SEED, a procedure of
finding the available SEED, and a procedure of generating a link ID may
be sequentially performed.

[0029] The method of configuring the SEED will be described later.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a communication relationship and a
communication frame structure of a device to device according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, device to device communication may be
performed among a first device 110, a second device 120, and a base
station 100. However, the base station may be a constituent element in
the device to device communication.

[0032] The first device 110 and the second device 120 attempts
communication without help of the base station 100. In this case, a
frequency used for mutual communication by the first device 110 and the
second device 120 may be a frequency of the base station 100 or a
frequency other than a band used by the base station 100.

[0033] The first device 110 and the second device 120 may perform
communication in a preset communication frame 130. The communication
frame 130 may include a search period 132, a pairing period 134, and a
data transmitting period 136. According to various embodiments of the
present disclosure, a size of a section displayed on a drawing may not be
proportional to a communication time, but may be a time interval which
flexibly varies according to setting.

[0034] The first device 110 and the second device 120 perform a search
procedure in the search period 132 to find another device. Hereinafter,
devices of a system supporting a Device to Device (D2D) service may
transmit device information within a time set as the search period 132 to
another device based on a tone or a sequence to search a device.

[0035] The device information may include ID information of a device,
interest, and application program information.

[0036] Further, when data to be transmitted to other searched devices
exists, the devices in the system may transmit a Pairing Request Message
to a corresponding device to which a transmission data will be
transmitted through a pairing procedure during a pairing period 134.

[0037] The device transmitting and receiving data in the pairing procedure
selects link ID capable of identifying a channel for transmitting data. A
device receiving at least one pairing request message expresses pairing
intention as a pairing response message to determine communication
intention with another device pairing the device. The device determining
a link ID transmitting and receiving data through the pairing response
message, and transmitting and receiving data may transmit and receive
data through a bandwidth allocated to the selected link ID. The pairing
scheme will be described in detail through an embodiment of the present
disclosure to be described later.

[0038] A device pair paired through a data transmitting procedure in a
data transmitting period 136 after the link ID is selected in the pairing
period 134 performs a distributed scheduling procedure in order to
acquire a resource transmitting data based on the selected link ID. The
device pair measures presence of interference with another device pair
through pilot information based on a priority of the link ID to determine
a presence of simultaneous transmission. The device pair completing the
scheduling may transmit data from a resource mapped to the device pair
link ID.

[0039] In this manner, the communication procedure described with
reference to FIG. 1 may be performed in a synchronization state by preset
timing by all devices in a network, and timing according to each
procedure may be variably set according to the various embodiments of the
present disclosure.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating constituent elements of a
device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 2, the device 200 may include a controller 210
capable of controlling an overall operation of constituent elements, and
a transceiver 220 capable of transmitting/receiving information under
control of the controller 210.

[0042] The controller 210 may perform an operation based on information
received by the transceiver 220, and may retransmit a result of the
operation through the transceiver 220.

[0043] The transceiver 220 may transmit and receive information to and
from another device or a base station under control of the controller
210.

[0044] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the
controller 210 and the transceiver 220 may be constituent elements of a
mobile communication terminal.

[0045] Further, according to various embodiments of the present
disclosure, the transceiver 220 may include a transmitter for
transmitting information and a receiver for receiving the information.

[0046] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating signal flow in a device to
device communication according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, data is transmitted and received
between a first device 300 and a second device 302.

[0048] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the
first device 300 operates as a transmission side terminal and the second
device 302 operates as a reception side device.

[0049] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the
first device 300 and the second device 302 are in a state of acquiring
information of other terminals, interest, and application program
information. As an example, the information of other terminals may
include the ID information of a device (e.g., of the other respective
terminals).

[0050] The first device 300 and the second device 302 enter the pairing
period 134 and operate.

[0051] At operations 310 and 325, the device 300 and the second device 302
may broadcast information of a currently used seed. In this manner, the
currently used seed is broadcasted to continuously use the seed used in a
previous communication frame 130. In this manner, the repeated use of a
seed used for another peripheral device may be prevented by broadcasting
the currently used seed. According to various embodiments of the present
disclosure, when no seed is used in a previous communication frame 130 by
the first device 300 and the second device 302, operations 310 and 325
may be respectively omitted.

[0052] At operations 315 and 330, the first device 300 and the second
device 302 may receive the broadcasted seed information from peripheral
other device pair in a seed broadcasting period. The total number of
seeds may be a preset value according to the link ID. In addition, the
seed is a set of a link ID for communication between devices and has a
tier structure.

[0053] At operation 320 and 335, the device 300 and the second device 302
determine a selectable candidate seed group based on the seed information
respectively acquired at operations 315 and 335.

[0054] The first device 300 and the second device 302 primarily selects
the candidate seed group as the number of a seed not provided from a
peripheral device in the operation 310 and 325 at which the seed is
broadcasted. Seeds belonging to the highest tier among the selected seeds
may be finally allocated as a candidate group. In other various
embodiments of the present disclosure, the whole information of the
selected candidate group may be stored. The number of seeds allocated as
a plurality of candidate groups belonging to the same tier may be changed
according to requirements of a system. A method of selecting the seed
will be described later.

[0055] At operation 340, the first device 300 may transmit a pairing
request message including selected seed candidate group information to
the second device 302. The selected seed candidate group transmitted at
operation 340 may include remaining seeds except for the seed used by a
peripheral device acquired at operation 315. Accordingly, when the first
device communicates with the second device by selecting the seed
candidate group, a probability of repetition of a link ID with a
peripheral device is reduced.

[0056] The second device may acquire information of a seed candidate group
transmitted from the first device based on the received pairing request
message. The acquired seed candidate group transmitted from the first
device may be compared with a seed candidate group selected at operation
335. The acquired seed candidate group transmitted from the first device
includes a seed group which another device neighboring the first device
300 does not use. The seed candidate group selected at operation 335
includes a seed group which another device neighboring the second device
302 does not use.

[0057] At operation 335, the second device 302 may select a common seed
candidate group from the acquired seed candidate group transmitted from
the first device and the seed candidate group selected. The common seed
candidate group is a seed which a device around the first device 300 and
a device around the second device 302. When the first device 300
communicates with the second device 302 by selecting one seed from the
common seed candidate group, a probability of repetition of a link ID
with a peripheral device is reduced. The common seed candidate group may
include at least one seed, and at least one seed may include seeds of
different tiers. The second device 302 may randomly select a seed
belonging to an uppermost tier from the common seed candidate group.
Further, the second device 302 may generate a random number corresponding
to a number of a link ID included in a random seed belonging to the
uppermost tier. The second device 302 may determine one from the selected
random seed belonging to the uppermost tier and a link ID included in the
selected random seed belonging to the uppermost tier through the random
number.

[0058] The link ID may be changed according to a determined condition
(e.g., time period) through an engaged common pattern. The link ID may be
changed according to a determined condition (e.g., time period) based on
engaged patterns by seeds in another scheme. In detail, a pattern
changing a link ID by seeds may be determined based on a preset signal or
the exchanged signal in a previous pairing time period. A pattern of
changing the link ID may have a rule changing a link ID located in the
seed for each period while exchanging data. The rule may be a determined
order. The rule may be determined as a function format using a specific
value as an input value. In detail, when the rule is determined as the
function format, a link ID may be changed for each time period based on a
function having an output value capable of selecting a time value in the
link ID in a seed or a previous link ID as a next link ID. The pattern
may include information indicting variation pattern indicating how the
link ID is sequentially changed.

[0059] At operation 345, the second device 302 may transmit the selected
random seed information belonging to the uppermost tier and a pairing
response message including the random number to the first device 300. The
first device 300 may select a link ID based on information included in
the pairing response message. Through the foregoing procedure, the first
device 300 and the second device 302 may determine a link ID to be used
for communication.

[0060] At operation 350, the first device 300 and the second device 302
may transmit and receive data through a bandwidth corresponding to a
selected link ID.

[0061] A device pair exchanging the pairing request message and the
pairing response message may determine a link ID in a seed by an engaged
rule. A method of determining the link ID according to various
embodiments of the present disclosure selects a link ID in a range which
the seed includes based on a selected seed and the random number included
in the pairing request and response messages.

[0062] Through the procedure, the same link ID may be selected in the seed
without additional communication. If there is the engaged common pattern
or at least patterns by seeds, a determined condition of the selected
link ID may be changed. The determined condition may include a case in
which a time period or times to perform data transmission time period are
equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

[0063] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of communication by
a transmission device according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 4, at operations 410 to 420, a transmission
device may operate in the same manner as at operations 310 and 320 of
FIG. 3. For example, at operation 410, the transmission device broadcasts
information (e.g., a currently used seed), and at operation 415, the
transmission device may receive a broadcasted device (e.g., which was
transmitted or broadcasted from another device).

[0065] At operation 420, the transmission device may select a seed
candidate group. The seed candidate group includes seeds which another
device neighboring the transmission device does not use.

[0066] At operation 425, the transmission device may transmit a pairing
request message including the selected seed candidate group selected at
operation 420 to a reception device.

[0067] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the
pairing request message may include a field listed in the following Table
1. A transmission device ID and a reception device ID are used to
identify a device for pairing. In addition, a parameter associated with
authentication for security and Quality of Service (QoS) information, a
traffic type of data for transmission may additionally be inserted.

[0068] At operation 430, the transmission device may receive a pairing
response message in response to the pairing request message from the
reception device. The pairing response message may include a seed and a
random number selected by the reception device. The random number may
correspond to a number of the link ID included in the seed selected by
the reception device. According to various embodiments of the present
disclosure, a range of the random number is changed according to the size
of the seed, and the random number may be selected in the range of the
number of link ID numerals including the seed.

[0069] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the
pairing response message may include a field listed in a following Table
2. The transmission device ID and the reception ID are used to identify a
desired device. The reception device compares the acquired seed candidate
with the acquired seed candidate group. If a possible seed is included in
the seed candidates, a seed is selected and is inserted into the pairing
response message. A detailed operation of the reception device will be
described later. In addition, the pairing response message may further
include a parameter associated with authentication for security between
devices.

[0070] The transmission device may determine selected seed information
based on the pairing response message and a specific link ID based on the
random number. Next, the transmission device may transmit and receive
data to and from the reception device through a bandwidth corresponding
to the selected link ID.

[0071] Accordingly, at operation 425, the transmission device may transmit
the seed candidate group selected. In addition, the transmission device
may transmit a random number corresponding to sizes of the selected seed
candidate group.

[0072] Accordingly, at operation 430, the transmission device may receive
the seed selected by the reception device. In addition, the transmission
device may receive a random number selected the reception device among
the transmitted random numbers.

[0073] At operation 435, the transmission device may select a link ID
based on the seed and the random number selected by the reception device.
If there is an engaged common pattern or at least one pattern designated
by seeds, a determined condition (e.g., time period) of the selected link
ID may be changed. In this manner, collision possibility of periodically
changing CID by changing the link ID based on a pattern value.
Accordingly, at operation 435, the transmission device may transmit and
receive data to and from the reception device through a bandwidth
corresponding to the selected link ID.

[0074] In detail, a link ID periodically selected in the seed may be
changed based on the transmitted/received pattern information. The
pattern information may include a sequence with a predetermined order or
a function format outputting a specific output value according to the
input value. Further, the sequence or function value may have different
forms by seeds.

[0075] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of communication by
a reception device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0076] Referring to FIG. 5, at operations 510 and 520, the reception
device may operate in the same manner as in operations 325 to 335. For
example, at operation 510, the reception device broadcasts information
(e.g., a currently used seed), and at operation 520, the reception device
may receive a broadcasted device (e.g., which was transmitted or
broadcasted from another device).

[0077] At operation 520, the reception device may select a seed candidate
group which a neighboring device does not use.

[0078] At operation 525, the reception device may receive a pairing
message including the seed candidate group information selected by the
transmission device. The seed candidate group selected by the
transmission device may include a seed which another peripheral device of
the transmission device does not use.

[0079] At operation 530, the reception device determines whether an
available seed exists. For example, the reception device compares the
seed candidate group received at operation 525 with a seed candidate
group selected at operation 520 to determine whether there is an
available seed.

[0080] If the reception device determines that a speed is available at
operation 530, then the reception device may proceed to operation 535 at
which the reception device may select a repeated seed in a seed candidate
group selected at operation 520 and a seed candidate group received at
operation 525. For example, the reception device may select a seed which
is included in the candidate group selected at operation 520 and a seed
candidate group received at operations 525. Thereafter, the reception
device proceeds to operation 545.

[0081] When a plurality of repeated seeds exists, the reception device may
select a random seed from seeds of the uppermost tier. A scheme of
selecting the seeds will be described later.

[0082] When the reception device determines that no seed is available at
operation 530, then the reception device may proceed to operation 540 at
which the reception device may select a lowermost tier seed. The
lowermost tier seed may be a seed including a link ID with the most
seeds. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, when a
seed of the lowermost tier is selected, the reception device may not
transmit seed information selected by the transmission device.
Thereafter, the reception device proceeds to operation 545.

[0083] At operation 545, the reception device may generate a random number
based on the seed selected at operation 535 or at operation 540. The
random number may be determined based on the link ID included in the
selected seed. Preferably, one number may be optionally selected within a
range of the number of link IDs included in the selected seed.
Accordingly, one link ID may be determined based on the selected seed and
link ID information.

[0084] At operation 550, the reception device may transmit a pairing
response message including seed information selected at operation 535 or
at operation 540 and transmit a random number selected (e.g., or
generated) at operation 545 to the transmission device.

[0085] At operation 555, the reception device may generate a link ID from
the selected seed to start data communication with the transmission
device.

[0086] FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D are diagrams illustrating a method of
dividing tiers of a link ID and seeds of a link ID according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0087] Referring to FIGS. 6A-6D, the total number of link IDs used for the
device to device communication is 80. The number of link IDs is
illustrative purpose only and may be changed according to the embodiment.
Further, the number of seeds or the number of tiers illustrative purpose
only. Accordingly, various embodiments of the present disclosure are not
limited to the number illustrated in drawings.

[0089] As illustrated in FIG. 6A, the whole link ID 600a includes seeds of
a first tier. The first tier total 6 seeds 605 to 630 (e.g., 605, 610,
615, 620, 625, and 630). A numeral of the link ID included in each seed
may be flexibly changed according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure. Respective seeds included in the first tier may not have the
same link ID. Accordingly, a link ID included in a seed belonging to the
first tier is orthogonal to a link ID included in another seed.

[0090] As illustrated in FIG. 6B, the whole link ID 600b includes seeds of
a second tier. The second tier includes four seeds 635 to 650 (e.g., 635,
640, 645, and 650). Respective seeds included in the second tier do not
have the same link ID. However, each seed included in the second tier may
have a link ID having the same link ID as that of at least one seed
included in the first tier. According to various embodiments of the
present disclosure, the seed 645 of the second tier may include the same
link ID as the link ID of three seeds 605, 610, and 615 of the first
tier.

[0091] As illustrated in FIG. 6C, the whole link ID 600c includes seeds of
a third tier. The third tier includes total second seeds 655 and 660.
Respective seeds included in the third tier do not have the same link ID.
However, respective seeds included in the third tier may have the same
link ID as that of at least one seed included in the first tier and the
second tier. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure,
the seed 655 of the third tier may have the same link ID as the link ID
of three seeds 635, 640, and 645. In this manner, to determine the link
ID included in each seed illustrated in the drawing depends on the
embodiment, but is not limited to a method illustrated in the drawing.

[0092] As illustrated in FIG. 6D, the whole link ID 600d includes a seed
of a fourth tier. In the embodiment, the fourth tier is the lowermost
tier and a seed 665 included in the fourth tier has the same link ID of
the link ID of the whole seeds in an upper tier (e.g., the first tier,
the second tier, and/or the third tier).

[0093] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of tiers and seeds
of a link ID according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0094] Referring to FIG. 7, respective tiers may have the same link ID.

[0095] The first tier 710 may include a Seed 1(711), a Seed 2 (712), a
Seed 3 (713), a Seed 4 (714), a Seed 5 (715), and a Seed 6 (716).

[0096] As illustrated in FIG. 6, respective seeds included in the first
tier 710 do not have the same link ID.

[0097] The second tier 720 may include a Seed 7 (721), a Seed 8 (722), a
Seed 9 (723), and a Seed 10 (724). Respective seeds included in the
second tier 720 do not have the same link ID. However, respective seeds
included in the second tier 720 may have the same link ID as the link ID
of seeds included in at least one first tier 710.

[0098] The third tier 730 may include a Seed 11 (731) and a Seed 12 (732).
Respective seeds included in the third tier 730 do not have the same link
ID. However, each seed included in the third tier 720 may have the same
link ID of the link ID of each seed included in at least one first tier
710 or second tier 720.

[0099] The fourth tier 740 may include a Seed 13 (741). In the embodiment
of the present disclosure, the Seed 13 (741) includes the whole link ID.

[0100] In this manner, the whole link ID may be classified as a seed
having a tier relationship. When the number of devices receiving
allocation of seeds located at an upper tier to communicate with does not
exceed a total number of seeds, the probability of the device receiving
allocation of seeds located at the upper tier having the same link ID of
those of other devices is reduced, so communication may be easily
performed.

[0101] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of selecting seeds of a
link ID according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0102] Although the seeds of the link ID may be selected by the
transmission device or the reception device, but be preferably selected
by the reception device.

[0103] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 8, the reception devices determines
whether there is an available seed at operations 530 and 540, and the
method of selecting the seeds of FIG. 8 may be applicable at an operation
of selecting the seeds.

[0104] At operation 810, the reception device may receive an available
seed list. The available seed includes a repeated seed from an available
seed list which is transmitted to the reception device from the
transmission device and a seed list which the reception device and a
peripheral device do not use. For example, the available seed may
correspond to a seed that is included in the available seed list which is
transmitted to the reception device from the transmission device, and
included in the seed list which the reception device and the peripheral
device do not use.

[0105] At operation 815, the reception device may determine whether a
plurality of seeds are included in the uppermost tier among the available
seed list. Referring to FIG. 7, when a Seed 1 (711), a Seed 3 (713), a
Seed 7 (721) are included in the available seed list, an uppermost tier
becomes a first tier 710 and two Seeds 711 and 713 are included in the
first tier 710.

[0106] If the reception device determines that the plurality of seeds are
included in the uppermost tier among the available seed list at operation
815, then the reception device may proceed to operation 820 at which the
reception device may randomly select one from seeds of the uppermost
tier. For example, the reception device may randomly selecting a seed
from seeds of the uppermost tier because a probability of selecting a
repeated link ID as compared with a link ID included in a lower tier is
reduced in a case of a link ID included in a seed of an upper tier, and
the repletion probability is the same between seeds of the same tier.

[0107] If the reception device determines that a plurality of seeds are
not included in the uppermost tier among the available seed list at
operation 815, then the reception device may proceed to operation 825 at
which the reception device selects the seed included in the uppermost
tier. For example, one Seed is included in the uppermost tier among the
available Seed list, the one Seed may be selected.

[0108] Further, according to various embodiments of the present
disclosure, the transmission or reception device for communication
recognizes a seed to be delayed from a previous time period through seed
broadcasting from another device. The transmission or reception terminal
selects a candidate seed depending on several rules. First, the lower a
tier is, the higher a priority is. A seed of a first tier including three
orthogonal link IDs has the highest priority. Accordingly, the
transmission or reception device selects seeds of a higher tier from
seeds of a lower tier. For example, the level of a tier is inversely
related to the level of priority associated with seeds corresponding to a
tier. Second, the seeds of the same tier have the same priority. For
example, the transmission or reception terminal randomly selects various
seeds included in the same tier when the seeds are used. Third, one
terminal generally occupies each seed. Repetition selection is possible
due to an error in a selective procedure. If the seed is used in the seed
broadcasting operation, the transmission or reception device does not
select a corresponding seed. Finally, anyone may participate in a final
tier and the final tier is not transmitted in the seed broadcasting
operation. According to the embodiment, in the seed broadcasting
operation, seeds of the final tier may be also transmitted. The
transmission/reception device having the final tier in a previous time
period confirms whether a seed of an upper tier is empty in the seed
broadcasting operation and selects a corresponding seed.

[0109] According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, when
allocating a connection ID in a device to device communication
environment, even if there are a small number of devices, an overhead for
searching for the connection ID is not great. Further, when many devices
exist within a specific range, a probability of devices having the same
connection ID is reduced. Accordingly, the device to device communication
can be easily performed.

[0110] It will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present
disclosure according to the claims and description in the specification
can be realized in the form of hardware, software or a combination of
hardware and software.

[0111] Any such software may be stored in a non-transitory computer
readable storage medium. The non-transitory computer readable storage
medium stores one or more programs (software modules), the one or more
programs comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more
processors in an electronic device, cause the electronic device to
perform a method of the present disclosure.

[0112] Any such software may be stored in the form of volatile or
non-volatile storage such as, for example, a storage device like a Read
Only Memory (ROM), whether erasable or rewritable or not, or in the form
of memory such as, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM), memory chips,
device or integrated circuits or on an optically or magnetically readable
medium such as, for example, a Compact Disk (CD), Digital Versatile Disc
(DVD), magnetic disk or magnetic tape or the like. It will be appreciated
that the storage devices and storage media are various embodiments of
non-transitory machine-readable storage that are suitable for storing a
program or programs comprising instructions that, when executed,
implement various embodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly,
various embodiments provide a program comprising code for implementing
apparatus or a method as claimed in any one of the claims of this
specification and a non-transitory machine-readable storage storing such
a program.

[0113] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number
of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that
numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those
skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the
principles of this disclosure, and variations and modifications can be
made to the disclosure without departing from the technical spirit and
equivalent scopes of the appended claims of the present disclosure.

[0114] While the present disclosure has been shown and described with
reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made
therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Patent applications by Chiwoo Lim, Suwon-Si KR

Patent applications by Daegyun Kim, Seongnam-Si KR

Patent applications by Kyungkyu Kim, Suwon-Si KR

Patent applications by Seunghoon Park, Seoul KR

Patent applications by SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.

Patent applications in class TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER AT SEPARATE STATIONS

Patent applications in all subclasses TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER AT SEPARATE STATIONS